Bowling-ball.



ALBERT SNDHEIMER., 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

BOWLING-Bam..

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2,1913.

Application led-August 2, 191`1. Serial No. 641,883.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ALBERT SONDHEIMER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, county ofCuyahoga, and yState of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bowling-Balls, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated -applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

v My invention relates to a removable bushing for bowling balls adapted to contain the recesses commonly known as the'handholes by which the ball is gripped by the bowler. Not only are my ,improved bushings removable, but by offsetting the holes at different distances from the center of the bushing, I am able to adjust the hand grip to different bowlers by merely changing the bushings.

The hand-holes have heretofore been a constant source ofv trouble and expense in the maintenance o-frbowling balls in first class conditions. With the lignum-vitae ball, the hand-holes were sometimes bored in the'balls, or a permanent hard rubber bushing was put in. Neither method was satisv factory. The plain holes chipped away very vao rapidly at the top, leaving the edge ragged and uncomfortable to the hand. If a rubber bushing was used toprevent chipping,

the moisture of the hand cpmbined withA the constant friction would so smooth the bushing that it gave a very poor grip and the ball would tend to slip when the `bowler was about to release it. Of course, new bushings could be inserted, but this was impossible without tools and the balls had to be sent to the factory, necessitating considerable expense and loss of time` The present bushing obviates both these diiiiculties, giving an easily removable bushing which 'does not chip no-r become smooth.`

To the accomplishment of the aforesaid `and related objects, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and-the following description setl forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of the various mechanical forms in which the -principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings Figure 1 is a central sectional view of a bowling ball l enabled to l having my improved bushings; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my bushing; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a quick-locking bushing; and Fig. 4; is a central section of a recess in a bowling ball adapted to receive the bushing in Fig. 3; Fig. 5' is a cross sectional View of the bushing shown in Fig. 3 in engagement with the recess of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the bushing when rotated into engagement with the threaded recess.

In Fig. 1, the bowling ball 1 is shown having the two removable bushings 2 one of which maybe threaded into the recesses 3. The bushings have cylindrical recesses 4 which may be disposed either concentrically, or more or less eccentrically, thus permitting different spacing between the recesses bythe insertion of variously recessed bushings. The bushings are held in secure engagement with the ball as shown. When not threaded the bushings are securely held by screws 5. rIhese screws may readily be removed and the bushing taken out and a new one inserted should one become chipped or too smooth. Neither is liable to happen, as I preferably use some tough material such as fiber which does not chip and becomes smooth only after long use. Even better than a fiber bushing is one made of such material as rubber ducking, or some similar composition, which. is tough, preferably homogeneous and very enduring.

In Fig. 2 I illustrate a bushing comprising an upper surface layer of fiber and a lower layer of wood. This latter bushing combines the good qualities of the rubber bushing, for the upper portion does not chip,

and also the superiority of the wood, foi` the grip is chiefly on the lower port-ion and they wood receives the same and does not become slippery.

It will be noticed that in Fig. 2 the disposition of the recesses in the bushing is'at an angle to a central line through the bushing, as shown by the' dotted lines in this ligure. By means of this construction, the bowler is get a more secure grip on the since the two recesses may be so bushings,

disposed that they are inclinedv to each other at a greater angle than if they radially inset in the bushings. y

It will be obvious that the recesses in the bushings may be eccentrically disposed with were merely respect to "the central line of the bushing,

and also at an angle to such central line,

35 of the different distances between the holes.

. as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. When the recess in the bushing is both eccentric and at an angle to the central line of the bushing there can be but little adjustment of the bushing by rotation since the advantage of the inclination of the recesses to the central lines is thereby lost, and the-grip secured is not as good, or at the best no better than if the recesses were eccentric but parallel with the central lines of the bushings.

All of the bushings embody the principle of my invention by beingfremovable and ad- .justable and are of materials superior in every way to that which was suitable for the bushings heretofore used.

In Figs. 3 and 1 I illustrate a ball and a bushing therefor which may be instantly adjusted and yet is in secure engagement.

`On the opposite quadrants of the threaded recess I cut out the threads and do the same to the threads on the bushings. Thus in one relative position (see Fig. 6) the bushing will-eas1ly slip into the recess, when a quarter turnl will cause engagement ofthe threading, (see Fig. 5) and the screws may or may not be used to lock the bushing -in engagement. 5

The adjustment regard as little less important than the removable feature. Bowling balls are at present made with the spacing between the holes of certain standard dimensions. This makes it necessary-\f or manufacturers and dealers following to carry in stock an excessive number of balls of each weight and diameter because By using my bushings the holes can all be set at a givenvdistance and the variously apertured bushings can be used to adjust the spacing of the holes to the individual requirement. It -will be seen therefore, that the use of my new and improved bushing cheapens the cost of manufacture by cutting down the amount of stock -which'must be kept on hand, and greatly lessens the cost of keeping the balls in goodrepair with refeature of my bushings Il I therefore particularly `point out and" distinctly claim as my invention 1. The combination with` a bowling ball having a recess therein; of )a bushing adaptl ed to removably engage such recess, said bushing having an eccentrically disposed aperture therein.

2. The combination with a bowlingv ball having a recess therein; of a bushing adapted to removably .engage such recess, said bushing having an aperture disposed therein, the axial lines of such recess and such aperture being mutually inclined with relation to each other.

3. The c ombination with a bowling ball having a'recess therein; of avbushing adapt- .ed to removably enga e such recess, said bushing having a su stantially smoothwalled cylindrical aperture disposed therein, the axial lines -of such recess andV such aperture being mutually inclined with rela tion toeach other.

4. The combination with a bowling-ball having a recess therein; of a bushing adapted toremovably engage. such recess,4 said bushing having an eccentrically disposed aperture therein, and means 'adapted t0 prevent said bushing from turning during use.

5. The combination with a bowling Vball having a plurality of recesses therein; of a plurality of bushings adapted to snugly engage said recesses each of said bushings having an eccentrically disposed aperture therein; and means connecting said ball and said bushings, whereby the latter cannot rotate during use.

6. The combination with a bowling ball havingv two radially disposed cylindrical threaded recesses spaced from each other;

of two bushings adapted to enter such recesses until flush with the surface of said ball, said bushings having cjndrical recesses eccentrically disposed therein and oblique with the central axis of saidvbush ings, whereby the spacing between such recesses may be varied by substituting bushings having the recesses therein of greater or less eccentricity, thus permitting the fitting of the recesses to the grip of different bowlers as desired; and screws adapted to securely retain said bushings in said ball.

Signed by me this 31 day of July, 1911.

ALBERT SONDHEIMER.

Attested by- HoRAcE B. FAX, MYRTLE K. SoHUcH'. 

